You’ve got an Equinox, and you want to hit the road with authority. And with the roof rack to help you get to all those lovely destinations equipped!
We’ve got you covered. In this guide we cover all model years going back to 2010 for your Chevy. And soon you’ll be riding off into the sunset with your fancy rack.
So let’s take a look at the 4 Best Roof Racks for Chevy Equinox:
CargoLoc 2-Piece 52" Aluminum Roof Top Cross Bar Set
Chevy Equinox roof rack
Best Overall
- Best overall has roof rack
- High strength
Pros
- Affordable
- High quality
Cons
- There aren’t any
ALAVENTE Roof Rack Cross Bars for Chevrolet Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain
Roof rack for Chevy
Budget option
- Affordable
Pros
- Easy to install
- High quality
- Low clearance
Cons
- Not many
BRIGHTLINES Roof Rack Cross Bar
Roof rack
Premium option
- Editors choice
Pros
- High quality and good strength
- Lockable
Cons
- Sits up a bit
1. CargoLoc 2-Piece 52" Aluminum Roof Top Cross Bar Set – Fits Maximum 46” Span Across Existing Raised Side Rails with Gap – Features Keyed Locking Mechanism
CargoLoc is a universal rack system that’s perfect for an Equinox with side rails.
This is our only “universal rack” on the list. The rest are custom fits. So why do we feature the CargoLoc?
Because it has a great reputation and it’s the most affordable roof rack we’ve ever seen. So for those of you with side rails on your Equinox looking to save a little bit of money, this might be right up your alley.
Generally though, a custom fit is going to be best. But if you want something for light use and aren’t looking for a long term roof rack on your vehicle, give this a second look.
The actual cross bars are made out of aluminum. So unlike with a steel option, you won’t have to worry about rust.
2. ALAVENTE Roof Rack Cross Bars for Chevrolet Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain 2010-2017 w/Top Side Rail | Cargo Roof Rack Top Rail Cross Bars | Luggage Carrier (Pair, Black)
Now we’re moving on to the custom fits. This rack by Alavente covers the largest range of years, a seven year span.
If you have side rails, this will fit perfectly into your existing hardware.
And that’s important, because for an aftermarket rack you want something that has a lot of stability.
The low profile of this design means you won’t have to hear the wind howling as you drive past. The curvature of these bars lend themselves to be complemented by aerodynamics.
And as for the price? Fairly affordable we’d have to say. Of course it’s not going to be as cheap as a universal rack. But for a custom fit, this is an exceptional value. This rack can also hold an extremely high amount of weight, at up to 165 lbs.
That stability makes it perfect for anything someone would commonly use a roof rack for. From a cargo box to a kayak.
3. BRIGHTLINES Roof Rack Cross Bar Compatible with 2018-2020 Chevy Equinox GMC Terrain
Our next two racks are targeted at the most recent models of the Equinox. And compatible with versions of the vehicle that has side rails, and that does not.
This particular rack from Brightlines is only compatible with an Equinox that has side rails from 2018 to 2020.
It has a fairly high profile, and it’s not as seamless as the Alavente model. But it’s made of a die cast aluminum and can hold a highly rated weight of 165 lbs.
Like we’ve mentioned previously, aluminum is our favorite material for roof racks because it won’t rust and it’s very light. This rack in particular is only 11 lbs.
4. BRIGHTLINES Equinox Roof Rack Cross Bars Compatible with 2018-2019 Chevy Equinox Without Roof Rails
Last but not least is another Brightlines model. This one made specifically for those of you without roof rails and a later year of Equinox.
So how does this stay put on your roof? This mounts directly into docking stations with the preexisting hardware on your vehicle.
Make sure you have these holes before placing an order. The mounting hardware requires it. As for construction, this is nearly the same thing as the model featured in #3. Just with slight modifications for the different mounting process.
It’s aluminum, rated to up to 165 lbs, and die-cast.
What are roof racks best used for?
A plethora of things become possible once you have a roof rack. But the most common ones are for getting some extra storage space with a cargo box, taking your kayak on a trip with a kayak mount, or slapping your snowboard/skiis on top of your vehicles.
For all of those mounts and to make your adventuring easy, the prerequisite is that you have a roof rack installed!
I don’t want to install a roof rack, is there an alternative?
Depending on what you were planning on using the roof rack for, yes there could be. If you’d like more cargo space for road trips and things of the sort then there are cargo bags. Which essentially you tie on to your roof.
It’s not going to be as sturdy as a hard shell cargo box, but the plus side is in many designs no additional hardware is needed.
Hopefully, this guide helped you make up your mind about the roof rack for your Chevy Equinox. There are many options from universal to custom fits. It all depends on what’s best for you.
If you end up grabbing something we suggested, make sure to come back and let us know how it worked out. We love hearing from our readers and their comments. Thanks for stopping by!